Shopping

We went to a bunch of community rummage sales Friday. Everyone had a great time, in spite of the rain. Elliot scored a little Pottery Barn sink/cupboard that has suddenly become the busiest place in my house. I dug out the pretend food and pans she didn’t know we owned that were stashed away.

I just gave my daughter like 300 new toys. The though makes me cringe.

Stellan got a new pillow I’d heard good things about. It’s very pink. The kids assure me it’ll be fine. Stellan’s reaction… Might indicate he has another train of thought going.

I was shopping the other day, trying to find a secret sister gift for our year end party Monday night, and spent more time reminding children not to touch things, not to break everything glass that surrounded them, trying to keep Stellan from screaming because, well, that’s what Stellan does best, when a woman commented on Stellan and then finished up the comment with, “I can laugh. Because now, I get to turn around and walk away.”

I was having a rough time finding what I wanted, and fitting eight children through the crowded aisles of TJ Maxx was about to do me in. Blaine’s line referring to children being comparable to herding cats was never more true. But would I really have wanted to be able to just walk away?

Short answer: no. As long as the days get, as hard as it might be, this is where I am, doing the next thing. We plowed forward, found what we needed, came home with a sewing project to round out the gift, survived another day, and even had a bit of fun choosing gifts.

I did have one lovely thought. Someday they’ll be my grandkids at my feet instead. And I can have all the fun… And then sleep all night. And never, ever plan a shopping trip with eight of them. Lovely thoughts.

Here’s how we go for walks these days… Baby on the front, toddler on the back. I’ll be in fabulous shape in no time, carrying 45 pounds of baby. That’s what I keep telling myself.

When we go for said walks, we find out where Maisie has been getting the fish she keeps coming home with. She’s fishing. In a river. Half a mile from the house. She’s apparently made friends with people down there, regularly touring a nearby cave with them. Seriously. I don’t even know.